Shotaro Ishinomori

Shotaro Ishinomori (January 25, 1938 – January 28, 1998) was an influential mangaka in anime, manga, and tokusatsu; his most famous works being Cyborg 009, Kamen Rider, and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. Starting his career as an assistant under the famed Osamu Tezuka; Ishinomori eventually became famous and mentored his own assistants, including Go Nagai and Gosaku Ōta. Ishinomori currently holds the Guiness World Record for most comics published under one author.

A young Shotaro Onodera entered a manga contest to seek out new talents. His drawings interested Osamu Tezuka and was asked to be his assistant in Astro Boy. Eventually, Ishinomori started his manga in an art form similar to Tezuka's, his biggest success was in Cyborg 009. While still working for Weekly Shonen Sunday, a new assistant named Go Nagai was placed under Ishinomori's wing. Liking Nagai's work for his own series, he suggested a few changes before being published (which was not done for decades). Ishinomori would go to provide his works through manga, anime, and tokusatsu. Three days after his 60th birthday, he died from heart failure; but left a legacy for others to follow.